OPAL in Cameroon

Country situation

Cameroon represents a major region of growth in oil palm cultivation in Africa. There are, however, serious problems of productivity and lack of competitiveness. Low productivity is the result of aging plantations, the use of unselected seedlings, the absence of fertilization, and low milling yields. Nonetheless, Cameroon has a huge domestic and regional market for crude palm oil, while numerous well established artisanal mills provide a degree of independency from large industrial operation.

Goal

The OPAL Cameroon team is responsible for project activities in Cameroon. The team developed the CoPalCam role playing game, and initiated a series of MSc studies intended at providing a better knowledge of the palm oil smallholder sector in Cameroon. The team will facilitate in Cameroon the field research undertaken by the teams dealing with biodiversity and landscape patterns, hydrological services, and soil processes. Our overall objective is to contribute to the sustainable development of the palm oil sector in Cameroon.

People

The major partners to the OPAL project in Cameroon are Ludovic Miaro, Durrel Halleson and Fideline Mboringong from WWF-Cameroon, Emmanuel Ngom from PDPV-MINADER, and Patrice Levang from IRD/contributorsCIFOR. Occasional support has been provided by Eglantine Fauvelle and Laurène Feintrenie CIRAD) and Raymond Nkongho (Univ. of Buea). Every year master students are hired through internships to answer specific research questions. Aimée Kwembi and Kenneth Mbache were hired in 2015. Théo Martin and Marie Gaëlle Ngo Njiki were hired in 2016.

Current activities

The CoPalCam role playing game has been developed and tested in Montpellier first. After being tested by the team in Cameroon and its parameters adjusted, the game was played with local actors in three locations: Ekondo Titi, Muyuka and Eseka. The game was enjoyed by all participants (smallholders, medium holders, cooperatives, agro-industries, retailers, district representatives from the ministry of Agriculture) who contributed to fine tune the game. The learnings provided during the playing sessions were highly welcomed by the participants. They fostered heated debated among participants and contributed to a better understanding of the sector.In early April 2016, a special game session was organized in Yaoundé with the members of the Interministerial Commission on oil palm, a commission bringing together high level civil servants from the ministry of Commerce, the ministry of Finance, the ministry of Agriculture, agro-industries, second processing industries, and producers’ unions. The game was a huge success. More info ﻿here﻿.

In 2015, two studies were initiated on:- Place and role of smallholder cooperatives in the development of the oil palm sector in Cameroon (Aimée Kwembi);- Feasibility study of the establishment of a palm oil micro mill managed by smallholders (Kenneth Mbache).

Related topics:

Game session at the highest level(April 2016)

A special game session was organized early April 2016 in Yaoundé with the members of the Interministerial Commission on oil palm, a commission bringing together high level civil servants from the ministry of Commerce, the ministry of Finance, the ministry of Agriculture, agro-industries, second processing industries, and producers’ unions. The game was a huge success!More info here.

Game sessions with stakeholders (August 2015)

Role-playing game sessions with palm oil supply chain stakeholders, where the CoPalCam game was tested and refined.Report and photos ﻿here﻿.